On the Jade Chamber
The sun was bright, the weather warm and pleasant.
A gentle breeze drifted by, slightly lifting Ningguang's dress and revealing a glimpse of her elegant silhouette. Outside the Jade Chamber, the guards stood at attention, holding their spears with solemn faces.
Although Ningguang had assured them it was just an ordinary meeting and there was no need to be overly tense, they remained vigilant.
From its humble beginnings as a modest dwelling, the Jade Chamber had transformed into a grand floating palace, overshadowing the skies of Liyue. Never before had an envoy from Snezhnaya set foot in this sacred place.
But today, Lady Ningguang herself had extended an invitation to the new manager of the Northland Bank for a luncheon.
Given the reputation of the Fatui, the guards decided to be on high alert — no one wanted the guest to cause trouble in the Jade Chamber.
Standing on the stone terrace, Ningguang glanced toward Yujing Terrace, her gaze distant. Behind her stood Baiwen and Baixiao, her two aides, silently waiting.
Baishi had set off at dawn to extend the invitation, yet now it was nearly noon, and there was still no sign of her return. A hint of worry crept into Ningguang's mind.
Could something have happened?
Just as she considered sending someone to check, a green levitating platform began to rise from below Yujing Terrace. On it stood three figures, one of whom was Baishi.
The other two were a man and a woman. The man had black hair and was dressed in Snezhnayan attire. Ningguang didn't need to guess — this had to be the man who'd given Yelan a hard time.
Soon, the green platform settled on the stone terrace, and Luo Qing and his companion lightly leaped off.
"Lady Ningguang! It's an honor, truly! I've heard that you're not only capable but the fairest flower of Liyue, and seeing you today confirms it!" Luo Qing exclaimed with a radiant smile as he approached Ningguang, his tone full of exaggerated admiration.
As he got closer, he held out his hand, and Natalia promptly placed a small disc case into it.
"Just a small token of appreciation, a little gift for Lady Ningguang. I hope you'll forgive its simplicity," Luo Qing said, presenting the disc with both hands, his manner exceedingly polite.
"Lady Ningguang, this is the new manager of the Northland Bank, Luo Qing," Baishi introduced in a low voice.
"Luo Qing..." Ningguang murmured, her gaze lingering thoughtfully on the man before her.
In all her dealings with the Fatui, Ningguang had only ever encountered arrogance. Some of them wouldn't tolerate so much as a glance without causing trouble.
Look at them the wrong way, and they'd explode.
Yet here was Luo Qing, behaving more like a shrewd Liyue merchant than an envoy from Snezhnaya.
But Ningguang knew better than to let appearances deceive her. No matter how Liyuean his mannerisms, he was still Fatui — and a Fatui should never be trusted on face value alone. In fact, the more normal he appeared, the more dangerous he seemed.
"For Mr. Luo Qing to become the manager of the Northland Bank, you must be quite accomplished. No need to be so modest," Ningguang said, gesturing for Baixiao to take the disc.
"Oh, Lady Ningguang, there's no need for such flattery," Luo Qing said, waving a hand modestly. "I'm just a humble businessman, nowhere near the level of Liyue's premier leader, Lady Ningguang."
"Hehe, if you say so. Please, follow me — I've been waiting for some time," Ningguang said with a gentle smile.
"Baishi, show our guests to their seats," she instructed.
"Of course, Lady Ningguang," Baishi said, stepping forward and leading Luo Qing and Natalia inside.
As Baishi led them through the ornate entrance, Ningguang's professional smile faded. She turned to Baishi with a concerned expression.
"Did something happen on the way?" she asked.
"No, Lady Ningguang. It's just that..." Baishi hesitated, struggling to find the right words.
"Just say it."
"That man... he refused to get up until almost noon! I had to wait until his subordinates finally agreed to wake him!" Baishi blurted out, her frustration clear.
"..."
Meanwhile, as Luo Qing and Natalia followed Baishi into the Jade Chamber, Luo Qing received two sudden notifications:
[Frustration Value from Baishi +1]
[Frustration Value from Ningguang +1]
Huh, did I do something to annoy them? Luo Qing wondered.
The Jade Chamber served as Ningguang's center of power, where she managed all the affairs of Liyue. Rumor had it that somewhere within its walls was an intelligence board containing all of Liyue's secrets. Even obtaining a single page from it would make Liyuean merchants beg to buy it at any price.
But today, to meet with Luo Qing, Ningguang had ordered all confidential documents to be put away.
For now, the Jade Chamber was nothing more than a stunning palace in Luo Qing's eyes.
After guiding them into a side chamber, Baishi bowed and took her leave, leaving the two alone in the opulent space.
"Wow, Master Luo Qing, there's a pond inside the room!" Natalia exclaimed.
"And those lanterns are so pretty."
"Look at these antiques and porcelain..."
Natalia's eyes sparkled as she took in the elegant decor, completely entranced by the splendor of the Jade Chamber.
"No wonder they call Lady Ningguang the richest woman in Liyue..." Natalia concluded.
"Natalia, I didn't bring you here to act like some wide-eyed country girl! Have some composure!" Luo Qing said, feeling embarrassed.
With her blonde hair, blue eyes, and long legs, Natalia looked sophisticated — but her behavior was ruining the effect.
Had he known she'd act this way, he would've come alone.
"...Fine," Natalia pouted. She took a deep breath and returned to her composed demeanor, her eyes taking on a cool, distant gaze as she stood behind Luo Qing.
It wasn't long before Ningguang arrived, accompanied by her three aides.
"Mr. Luo Qing, my apologies for the wait. Lunch will be served shortly. In the meantime, why don't we have a little chat?" she suggested, sitting down gracefully.
"Of course, Lady Ningguang. Feel free to ask anything you wish. If I know the answer, I'll be happy to share," Luo Qing said, leaning back in his chair.
He was curious to see how Ningguang would play this game.
After all, they were both seasoned foxes — she wouldn't get anything out of him with mere flattery.
"Mr. Luo Qing, being a Liyuean, why did you end up in Snezhnaya? I heard they aren't particularly welcoming to outsiders. It's said that surviving there can be... challenging," Ningguang asked.
"I was an orphan raised in Snezhnaya, after all. I grew up there. So, while I may have Liyuean blood, I'm practically half Snezhnayan," Luo Qing replied evenly.
"I see... Forgive me, Mr. Luo Qing. I shouldn't have pried," Ningguang said, offering an apologetic smile.
By now, she was certain: Luo Qing was the newly appointed trainee Harbinger.
Yet another Harbinger of Liyuean descent... how curious.
For a while, Ningguang's questions focused on Luo Qing's past. After that, the conversation shifted to discussing Liyue's business opportunities — but she never once brought up the collaboration she had initially mentioned.
Luo Qing, having a background in intelligence work, saw through her intentions easily.
It was clear she already suspected his true identity. Or perhaps she never truly believed he was just a bank manager in the first place. Why else would she have sent Yelan to shadow him the moment he arrived?
Still, as long as Ningguang wasn't going to address it directly, he had no reason to confirm her suspicions.
Feigning ignorance was the best strategy.